Lauren Lee | May 1, 2025 - Atlanta, GA

Occupational therapy (OT) is a unique branch of the healthcare system that focuses on helping individuals of all ages live their lives to the fullest. Occupational therapists help people do activities that are important to them. This can include daily routines, work, leisure, volunteering, going to school, and overall well-being.

The work that OTs do is widely varied. Some of the things that OTs can assist with include:

• Improving ADLs
• Planning and making the most of daily routines
• Fall prevention and home safety
• Returning to desired activities
• Creating techniques to help memory, concentration, and executive functioning
• At Tools for Life, they help you find the right assistive technology!

A real-life example of what OTs do could look like: 

• Helping a person with developmental disabilities transition from living at home to living independently
• Finding the right assistive technology to help someone with arthritis resume their favorite activities, like gardening or playing video games
• Working with someone with diabetes to find the right routines and lifestyle choices to manage the disease

If you want to work with an OT, you can usually find them in community settings (e.g., community centers, shelters, free clinics), hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, primary care offices, schools, and many other locations.

OT is all about increasing a person’s capacity to do the things they want to do. By tailoring treatments to each person’s needs and goals, OT emphasizes a holistic approach to care—focusing not just on improving physical abilities, but also on promoting emotional health, social participation, and self-sufficiency. 

Through adaptive techniques, tools, and environments, occupational therapy empowers people to thrive in their personal, professional, and social lives.